Automatic railway-switch.



J. B. TURNER.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

:APPLIUATIOH FILED JAN. 30, 1909. 929,053. I Patented July 27, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED 1,511.30, 1909.

Patented Ju ly 27, 1909.

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JOHN B. TURNER, OF FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1909.-

7 Application filed January 30, 1909. Serial No. 475,138.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 01-11; citizen of the United States, residing at- .Fort Smith, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Automatic Railway-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway switches of that type designed to be actuated by mechanism carried by a car approaching the switch.

The object of the invention is to provide mechanism of simple construction which will positively shift the switch, means being provided whereby the switch may be automatically locked in the position to .which it is shifted and until it is again desired to throw the switch.

Another object is to provide an actuating slide having a housing whereby it may be protected from injury by vehicles crossing the track, said housing being so constructed as to automatically disconnect the slide from engagement by the actuating mechanism on the car.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of= the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism embodying the present improvements, the housing of the main portion of said mechanism being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism carried by the car, the housing of the slide being shown in section. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section through the slide and its housing. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the wedge and the mechanism actuated thereby, the housing, the wedge and said mechanism being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a section on line AB Fig. Fig. 6 is a section on line CD Fig. 1-. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the cross-head, its guide-rod being shown in section.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates an elongated housing having a longitudinal passage 2 therein in the form of an inverted T, said housing being provided with side or base flanges 3 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the ties elat a point preferably midway between the rails 5. That end of the housing farthest B. TURNER, a

removed from the switch 6 is beveled as indicated at 7 and has an elongated tongue 8 extending therefrom and provided, for a portion of its length, with a' groove 9 preferably substantially in the form of an inverted T, this groove registering with the passage 2 in the housing 1. A slide 10 preferably in the form of an inverted T, is slidably mounted within the passage 2 and the groove 9 and the upstanding portion of this slide is designed to project above the groove 9 and the tongue 8 and into position to be engaged by actuating mechanism car- "ied by a car approaching the switch. As shown in Fig. 2 this mechanism may consist of a hanger 11 pivotally mounted upon. one of the axles of the car and having a longi tudinally slotted extension 12 slidably mounted thereon and designed to normally extend beyond the lower end of the hanger and in position to travel close to the upper surface of the tongue 8 when the hanger is in lowered or operative position. The extension 12 may be slidably mounted upon the hanger in any preferred manner, a guide pin 13 being preferably extended fronr the hanger and into the slot in the extension. Any preferred means may be utilized for preventing the extension from swinging rel ative to the hanger. Abell crank lever 1 1 is pivotally mounted upon the car structure 15 and one arm thereof is connected to the hanger by means of a rod 16, while the other arm has an extension. 17 extending into the car structure and provided with a foot-plate 18. A spring 19 is connected to the bell crank lever and also to the car structure and constitutes means for holding the hanger 11 normally elevated out of operative position. in Fig. 2 the mechanism upon the car structure has been shown out of normal position.

A rod 20 extends from that end of the slide 10 nearest the switch 6 and is connected at one end to a shifting wedge 21 slidably mounted between guide cleats 22 arranged longitudinally within one arm of a substantially cruciform housing 23, said wedge being provided with an extension 2 1 designed to travel within the opposed arm of the housing, said extension being connected to the top of the housing by a spring 25 which serves to hold the wedge 21 nor mally retracted into that portion of the housing containing the cleats 22. It will be apparent also that this spring serves to hold the slide 10 normally projected beyond the beveled end 7 of the housing 1.

A cross head 26 is mounted to slide below and transversely of the wedge 21 and its extension 24, said cross head being provided with guide cleats 27 formed within the housing 23. A connecting rod 28 extends from one end of this cross head and through one wall of the housing 23, said rod being attached to the switch tongue 6 in the usual or any preferred manner. Notches 29 are formed in one side of the cross head and either of these notches is designed to receive a locking stud 30 formed upon the bottom face of the extension 24, said stud serving to thus lock the cross head against movement after it has been shifted a predetermined distance in either direction.

A slot 31 is formed longitudinally within the cross head 26 and has a pin 32 extending transversely of the central portion thereof, said pin constituting a pivot and support for adog 33, made up of two integral arms 33 and 33 preferably arranged at an angle of about one hundred and thirty-five degrees, there being a cam face 3 at the inner angle of the dog and which cooperates with a roller 35 carriedby a supporting pin 36. This pin is slidably mounted within the housing 23 and is held normally elevated by a spring 37 mounted within a socket 38 formed in the bottom portion of the housing. A stud 39 extends upwardly from each end portion of the dog 33 and mounted thereon is a roller 40 designed, when its arm of the dog is lowered, to lie below the path of the wedge 21, and, when its arm is raised, to lie 1 in the path of said wedge. The rollers will of course alternately assume positions in the path of the wedge.

It is to be understood that the locking stud or projection 30 is normally seated within one of the notches 29, and the switch tongue 6 is thus locked against movement. Should it be desired to shift the switch ton ue the operator upon the car approaching the switch depresses the foot-plate 18, so as to shift the bell crank lever 1A against the stress of the spring 19. The hanger 11 will thus be swung downwardly to a position substantially perpendicular to the track, and the extension 12 will drop by gravity into position close to and above the tongue 8. As the car moves toward the switch the extension 12 will come into contact with the end of the slide 10 and will push said slide longitudinally within the housing 1. Movement will therefore be transmitted from the slide and through rod 20 to the wedge 21. This movement of the wedge will of course be against the stress of the spring 25. As soon as the, wedge 21 begins such movement the locking stud 3O withdraws from the notch 29 and thus unlocks the switch tongue 6. The wedge 21 then moves against the elevated roller 40 and pushes it laterally, causing the cross-head 26 to move therewith and to thus shift the switch tongue 6. At the same time the angle portion of the dog 33 will travel over the roller 35 and cause the spring-supported pin 36 to move clownwardly until after the cam surface 34- has passed the roller. Said spring-pressed pin 7 and the roller thereon will then push upwardly against the dog at the other side of the pivot thereof and will tend to elevate the other roller 40 until it presses against the bottom of the wedge 21, which, at this point in the operation of the mechanism, is located directly above the dog 33. As the car continues to approach the switch, the extension 12 of its hanger 11 rides upwardly on the beveled end 7 of housing 1 and thus becomes disengaged from the slide 10. Immediately subsequent thereto the spring 25 returns the slide, wedge and the extension 2% to their normal positions, the locking stud 3O becoming seated within the recess 29 located in the path thereof. It will thus be seen that the switch tongue is locked against movement and the car will travel over the switch and in the desired direction. As soon as the wedge 21 returns to its normal position the spring-supported pin 36 will complete the upward movement of the partly elevated arm of the dog so as to bring the roller 40 which is carried thereby, into the path of the wedge. It will be apparent therefore that whenever it may be desired to shift 'the switch tongue in the opposite direction it is merely necessary to repeat the operation hereinbefore described, whereupon the mechanism will operate to reverse the movement of the cross-head and of the parts connected thereto.

It will be seen that the mechanism constituting the present invention is very simple, durable and compact in construction, and, inasmuch as it 1s completely housed, there is no danger of its operation being interfered with by ice, snow, or accumulations of dirt.

Various changes can of course be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

That is claimed is 1. The combination with a switch tongue, of a cross-head connected thereto, an actuating device shiftable transversely of the crosshead, means for holding said actuating device normally in a predetermined position, and separate simultaneously movable means carried by the cross-head for alternately assuming positions in the path of the actuating means.

2. The combination with a switch, of a cross-head connected thereto, a slidable actuating device movable transversely of the cross-head, separate simultaneously movable means upon the cross-head for alternately engaging the actuating means to shift the cross-head, and means for automatically returning the actuating device to its initial position subsequent to each movement of the cross-head.

3. The combination with a switch, of a cross-head connected thereto, a slidable actuating device movable transversely of the cross-head, separate means movably mounted upon the cross-head for alternately assuming positions in the path of the actuating device to shift the cross-head, and locking means carried by the actuating device for normally engaging the cross-head to hold it against movement.

4. The combination with a switch, of a cross-head connected thereto, an actuating device movable transversely of the crosshead, yielding means for holding said device normally in a predetermined position, means carried by the actuating device for normally engaging the cross-head to hold it against movement, and separate means movably mounted upon the cross head for alternately assuming positions in the path of the actuating device to shift the cross-head.

5. The combination with a switch, of a cross-head connected thereto, a spring-controlled actuating device movable transversely of the cross-head, cooperating means upon the actuating device and cross-head for normally holding said cross-head against movement, and separate simultaneously movable means within the cross-head for alternately engaging the actuating device to shift the cross-head.

6. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, a springcontrolled actuating device movable transversely of said member, cooperating means upon said device and member for locking the member a 'ainst movement and movabl mounted means carried by the slidable member for projecting into the path of the actuating device to transmit sliding movement therefrom to the slidable member.

7. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, an actuating wedge movable transversely thereof, means for holding the same normally in a predetermined position, and means movably mounted upon the slidable member for automatically assuming a position in the path of the wedge to transmit movement from the wedge to the slidable member.

8. The combination with a switch, of a. slidable member connected thereto, a springcontroll-ed actuating wedge movable transversely of said member, cooperating means upon the wedge and member for locking said member againstmovement, and means movably mounted upon said member for projecting into the path of the wedge to transmit motion from the wedge to the member.

9. The combination with a switch, of a. slidable member connected thereto, an actuating wedge movable transi 'erseiy of said member, a spring for holding the wedge normally in a predetermined position, and spaced simultaneously movable devices ca ried by the wedge and alternately shiftable into the path of the wedge to transmit motion therefrom to the slidable member.

10. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member con'fiected thereto, a springcontrolled actuating wedge movable transversely of said member, spaced simultaneously movable devices upon said member, and spring-controlled means for alternately shifting said devices into the path of the wedge.

11. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, a dog pivotally mounted therein and having arms extending at angles to each other, springcontrolled means for holding either of said arms elevated, a spring-controlled actuating device movable transversely of said member, and means upon each arm of the dog for projecting into the path of the actuating device to transmit motion therefrom to the slidable member.

12. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member, a dog pivotally connected thereto and having arms extending at angles to each other, spring-pressed means for alternately elevating said arms during the reciprocation of the slidable member, an actuating device extending transversely of the slidable member, and means upon the arms for alternately projecting into the path of said device to transmit motion therefrom to the slidable member.

13. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, a dog pivotally connected to said member and having arms extending at angles to each other, spring-controlled means for alternately elevating said arms during the, reciprocation of the slidable member, an actuating device movable transversely of the slidable member, means thereon and upon the slidable member for locking said member against movement when the actuating device is in a predetermined position, and separate means upon the dog for alternately engaging the actuating device to. transmit mot-ion therefrom to the slidable member.

let. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, a dog pivotally connected to said member and having arms extending at angles to each other, spring-controlled means for alternately elevating the arms during the reciprocation of the slidable member, a springcontrolled actuating device movable transversely of said member, separate means upon the dog for engaging the actuating device to transmit motion therefrom to the slidable member, a slide connected to the actuating device, and a combined housing and guide therefor.

15. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, a pivoted member carried by said slidable member and having arms extending at an angle to each other, spring-controlled means for alternately elevating the arms during the reciprocation of the member, a slidable actuating wedge movable transversely of the slidable member, a spring for holding the wedge normally in a predetermined position, and separate means carried by the pivoted member for alternately projecting into the path of the wedge to transmit movement from the wedge to the slidable member.

16. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, a guide housing having a beveled end, a member slidably mounted within the housing and normally projecting beyond said end, an actuating device movable with the slide and transversely of the slidable member, earsupported for shifting the slide and the parts connected thereto, and means upon the slidable member for alternately engaging the actuating member to transmit motion therefrom to the slidable member.

17. The combination with a switch, of a slidable member connected thereto, an act-uating device movable transversely of said slidable member, means carried by said member and cooperating with the actuating device for shifting said member in either direction during the movement of the actuating device, a housing, a slide mounted to reciprocate therein and connected to the actuating device, said slide normally projecting beyond one end of the housing, said end of the housing being beveled, and mechanism carried by the car for shifting the slide, said mechanism including a movably supported hanger, and a slidable extension thereon for engagement with the slide and the beveled end of the housing.

18. The combination with a switch, of a cross-head connected thereto, an actuating device, cooperating means upon said device and the cross-head for locking the crosshead against movement, and' separate means carried by the cross-head for alternately cooperating with the actuating device to shift the cross-head in opposite directions respectively, during the movement of the actuating device out of locking position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

i JOHN B. TURNER.

\Vitnesses CHAS. P. YanoN, Trios. E. KING. 

